TV-Series
Description
Count Saint-Germi is a powerful nobleman within the Orte Empire and holds the distinction of being the oldest living Drifter in the world. He was instrumental in the empire's very foundation, having been the first aristocrat to ally with Adolf Hitler during its initial stages fifty years before the main storyline. This act of early support earned him immense privilege, including ownership of a quarter of the empire's land and the freedom to act largely without criticism from his peers.
Despite his foundational role, Saint-Germi possesses a personality defined by cold, ruthless calculation. He is described as a cunning and intelligent individual who maintains a cool head, even when his actions are dramatic. His primary motivation is pure self-preservation and alignment with the winning side, as he operates on profit and calculation rather than any sense of loyalty, conscience, or passion. He is very prone to betrayal, a trait that paradoxically makes him reliable to those who understand him; if he joins a side, it means his calculations have determined that side has the highest chance of victory.
Saint-Germi plays a pivotal role as a turncoat who shifts the balance of power in the magical world. Concluding that the Orte Empire is doomed to fall due to endless wars and the threat of the Ends, he defects to the group of protagonists led by Shimazu Toyohisa. He uses his political position to smuggle the Drifters and their soldiers into the capital, effectively selling out the empire he helped build. Following the successful takeover, he partners with Oda Nobunaga as a key strategist and administrator for the new allied forces, handling post-war reconstruction and confiscating the assets of the Orte nobility.
His key relationships are defined by this calculated nature. He views Grigori Rasputin of the Black King's army as a political rival, matching wits against him in the struggle for control of the capital. With the Drifters, he forms a pragmatic alliance with Nobunaga, with whom he shares a deep understanding of strategy and cunning, though their motivations differ. While Saint-Germi acts purely on calculation, Nobunaga is driven by a grand ambition for world domination. His aides are Alester and Flemi, subordinates who serve as his escorts and are re-imaginings of historical alchemists Aleister Crowley and Nicolas Flamel.
In terms of development, Saint-Germi begins as an apathetic architect of a brutal, human-supremacist empire. His decision to switch sides is less a moral awakening and more a pragmatic recognition of inevitability. However, his interactions with the Drifters do cause subtle shifts, as he begins to understand that the historical figures he knows from books are different from the genuine article, such as when he is taken aback by Shimazu Toyohisa's unwavering confidence. He also demonstrates an ability to acknowledge others deserving respect, as shown by his reaction upon discovering that a delirious old man with the Drifters is the legendary general Hannibal.
Saint-Germi possesses several notable abilities and traits that make him invaluable. As an alchemist, he is likely the most capable person to produce the detonator, a critical item in the setting. He also has extensive knowledge of the identities and histories of both the Drifters and the Ends, a result of coming from a later time period than most others. For combat, he commands the Sacred Band of Thebes, a unit of 500 highly trained soldiers composed of male couples who fight with exceptional skill, notably being among the first to wield mass-produced matchlock firearms in battle. His appearance is deliberately androgynous and eccentric; he is a tall, blond man with sharp blue eyes, an elaborate hairstyle, heavy makeup, and a flamboyant fashion sense, giving him the look of a youthful drag queen despite being well over fifty years old.
Despite his foundational role, Saint-Germi possesses a personality defined by cold, ruthless calculation. He is described as a cunning and intelligent individual who maintains a cool head, even when his actions are dramatic. His primary motivation is pure self-preservation and alignment with the winning side, as he operates on profit and calculation rather than any sense of loyalty, conscience, or passion. He is very prone to betrayal, a trait that paradoxically makes him reliable to those who understand him; if he joins a side, it means his calculations have determined that side has the highest chance of victory.
Saint-Germi plays a pivotal role as a turncoat who shifts the balance of power in the magical world. Concluding that the Orte Empire is doomed to fall due to endless wars and the threat of the Ends, he defects to the group of protagonists led by Shimazu Toyohisa. He uses his political position to smuggle the Drifters and their soldiers into the capital, effectively selling out the empire he helped build. Following the successful takeover, he partners with Oda Nobunaga as a key strategist and administrator for the new allied forces, handling post-war reconstruction and confiscating the assets of the Orte nobility.
His key relationships are defined by this calculated nature. He views Grigori Rasputin of the Black King's army as a political rival, matching wits against him in the struggle for control of the capital. With the Drifters, he forms a pragmatic alliance with Nobunaga, with whom he shares a deep understanding of strategy and cunning, though their motivations differ. While Saint-Germi acts purely on calculation, Nobunaga is driven by a grand ambition for world domination. His aides are Alester and Flemi, subordinates who serve as his escorts and are re-imaginings of historical alchemists Aleister Crowley and Nicolas Flamel.
In terms of development, Saint-Germi begins as an apathetic architect of a brutal, human-supremacist empire. His decision to switch sides is less a moral awakening and more a pragmatic recognition of inevitability. However, his interactions with the Drifters do cause subtle shifts, as he begins to understand that the historical figures he knows from books are different from the genuine article, such as when he is taken aback by Shimazu Toyohisa's unwavering confidence. He also demonstrates an ability to acknowledge others deserving respect, as shown by his reaction upon discovering that a delirious old man with the Drifters is the legendary general Hannibal.
Saint-Germi possesses several notable abilities and traits that make him invaluable. As an alchemist, he is likely the most capable person to produce the detonator, a critical item in the setting. He also has extensive knowledge of the identities and histories of both the Drifters and the Ends, a result of coming from a later time period than most others. For combat, he commands the Sacred Band of Thebes, a unit of 500 highly trained soldiers composed of male couples who fight with exceptional skill, notably being among the first to wield mass-produced matchlock firearms in battle. His appearance is deliberately androgynous and eccentric; he is a tall, blond man with sharp blue eyes, an elaborate hairstyle, heavy makeup, and a flamboyant fashion sense, giving him the look of a youthful drag queen despite being well over fifty years old.